Currently running Maxxis Ikon 27.5×2.2. I just moved to an area where I’ll be riding a lot more pavement to get to the gravel and the riding will be less steep and I think less chunky.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be great!
by Larix-24
Currently running Maxxis Ikon 27.5×2.2. I just moved to an area where I’ll be riding a lot more pavement to get to the gravel and the riding will be less steep and I think less chunky.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be great!
by Larix-24
27 Comments
Pathfinder TLR 45 mm
Slicks, semislicks.
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M
Continental Race King (originally I thought gravel king which was corrected by a kind redditor who must have seen my bike ;). ) same size as you have. Really good tradeoff of rolling resistance, dry dirt traction, damp dirt traction, and pavement traction. Not great on dime diameter gravel and wet diagonal roots, but not much is. Terrible on mud, but will clear the mud fast once you get yourself unstuck ;). So far, they have not had the fragility and mounting difficulties that other Continental have had for me. 22-25 psi seems to be a sweet spot.
Might get away with a 2.2 filetread due to the width/grip. ReneHerse, or even an old RaceKing Racesport. Have ran both across mild gradients; road+gravel+sand.
Ultradynamico may have something with minimal to no knobs down the middle.
Tufo Gravel Thunderos in 44mm. Or the speederos if you really don’t have much need for grippier tires.
https://www.renehersecycles.com/product-category/components/tires/650b/
I was gonna say they have awesome semi slicks but then saw you’re running 650b / 27.5
I will say their knobbies are pretty good on pavement and roll pretty smoothly and quickly. But they have great slicks as well.
Hutchinson Caracal Race TLR 40mm
Vittoria Terreno Dry. Has a nice slick center line with lugs on the side for traction. My favorite tire for gravel as someone who’s on a road bike with slicks more often than not.
Gravelking SK 27.5 X 1.75. I’m using those right now and they’re great for a mix of pavement and gravel.
Schwalbe g one 2.2
Try SimWorks HOMAGE 27.5×55 tires
https://www.sim.works/collections/panaracer-tire
Schwalbe G One RX Pro
What are those bottle cages?
If you can stomach the price and find them somewhere, Ultradynamico makes a fantastic tire. Their Cava JFFs (just for fun c: ) is a little squirrelly on the looser and chunkier gravel but SERIOUSLY fast on the roads, and lighter or packed gravel. They are so fun and so high quality.
If you need more tread or some puncture protection, check out their Rosé tires, or the Robusto casing instead of the JFF. Heard great things about the Rosés.
And yes, all their tires are named after wine.
I ride my Crust on lots of pavement/chunky gravel/singletrack and like the combo of Ultradynamico Mars on the front, Cava on the rear.
The new Panaracer gravel king X1 are amazing in gravel or tarmac. I’m running 45mm, but I like them to much I might get a set in 35 for my road bike.
Anton, is that you?
A set of 700c wheels and Maxxis Velocita AR in 40mm variety would work.
Tufo thundero 48 or 44, tubeless
Mezcals. They’re faster than an Ikon but you get to keep the comfort and off-road grip. They also last a long time (like 3000+ miles of 50/50 pavement to gravel)
Michellin power gravel. Not too aggressive and loooks so nice
Soma Cazadore
Schwalbe G-One RS Pro. It’s a semi slick with knobs on the sides
You might want to clarify if you’re planning on sticking with 650b or moving to a 700c wheel set because a lot of the top recommendations already here are exclusive to 700c like the Tufo Speedero/Thundero, Hutchinson Caracal, Pathfinder Pro, Schwable G-one, etc.
I’m in a similar boat as you, switching to more road heavy location and looking for a more road capable tire. A lot of the good reccos come in are for 700c
Ramblers.
The new pathfinder TLR has been treating me SO GOOD. Lots of pavement riding to get to the gravel for me as well. Fast on the road and still confident on the gravel. But that would be a big switch up from what you’re currently running